tellurium

[ te-loo r-ee-uh m ]
/ tɛˈlʊər i əm /

noun Chemistry.

a rare, lustrous, brittle, crystalline, silver-white element resembling sulfur in its properties, and usually occurring in nature combined with gold, silver, or other metals of high atomic weight: used in the manufacture of alloys and as a coloring agent in glass and ceramics. Symbol: Te; atomic weight: 127.60; atomic number: 52; specific gravity: 6.24.

Origin of tellurium

< New Latin (1798), equivalent to Latin tellūr- (stem of tellūs) earth + -ium

Example sentences from the Web for tellurium

British Dictionary definitions for tellurium

tellurium
/ (tɛˈlʊərɪəm) /

noun

a brittle silvery-white nonmetallic element occurring both uncombined and in combination with metals: used in alloys of lead and copper and as a semiconductor. Symbol: Te; atomic no: 52; atomic wt: 127.60; valency: 2, 4, or 6; relative density: 6.24; melting pt: 449.57±0.3°C; boiling pt: 988°C

Word Origin for tellurium

C19: New Latin, from Latin tellūs the earth, formed by analogy with uranium

Medical definitions for tellurium

tellurium
[ tĕ-lurē-əm ]

n. Symbol Te

A brittle metallic element usually found in combination with gold and other metals, used to alloy stainless steel and lead, and in thermoelectric devices. Atomic number 52.

Scientific definitions for tellurium

tellurium
[ tĕ-lurē-əm ]

Te

A metalloid element that occurs as either a brittle, shiny, silvery-white crystal or a gray or brown powder. Small amounts of tellurium are used to improve the alloys of various metals. Atomic number 52; atomic weight 127.60; melting point 449.5°C; boiling point 989.8°C; specific gravity 6.24; valence 2, 4, 6. See Periodic Table.